Departing Son Heung-min in Tears as Tottenham Draw with Newcastle in Seoul Farewell

Just a day after announcing his imminent departure from Tottenham Hotspur following a decade with the club, Son Heung-min was given an emotional farewell on Sunday by teammates, Newcastle players, and nearly 65,000 fans at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

The pre-season friendly between the two Premier League sides ended 1–1, but the evening’s most poignant moment came in the second half when Son was substituted—likely marking his final appearance in a Spurs shirt. The 33-year-old club captain was embraced by players from both teams before taking his seat on the bench in tears.

“First we had the walkaround and then the teammates gathered around, and he was emotional,” said Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank.
“In the changing room it was more of the same. I just said a few things, but not much, because it’s about Sonny—and then he said a few things. It was beautiful.”

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe also praised the South Korean forward.

“The reaction was instinctive from my players—I think that speaks volumes about him,” said Howe.
“He’s seen as one of the great Premier League players. It’s not just about his talent, but the way he has conducted himself over the years.”

Son, who has been linked with a potential move to Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC, scored 173 goals in 454 appearances for Tottenham. Although he was unable to score in Seoul, Frank confirmed it was likely his final outing for the club.

While Son didn’t find the net, his signature “camera” goal celebration was mimicked by Brennan Johnson, who opened the scoring for Spurs after just four minutes with a low strike from the edge of the area.

Harvey Barnes equalised for Newcastle seven minutes before the interval, cutting in from the left and unleashing a powerful finish.

Tottenham suffered a setback late in the match when James Maddison was stretchered off with an apparent knee injury.

“We’re pretty sure it was the same knee he injured before,” Frank said.

The midfielder now appears doubtful for the UEFA Super Cup clash on 13 August, where Tottenham—winners of the Europa League—are set to face Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain. The Premier League campaign kicks off just two days later.